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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

I have two of the most adorable dogs! And although they are adorable, they can be real stinkers! It's funny how every dog has their own quirks. Mine certainly do. They might be completely different from each other, but they absolutely love their food/treats!

Bo loves his food. He will eat anything you put in front of him... with the exception of uncooked pepperoni. But anything else he will eat up in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, he needs to loose some weight, so I try not to feed him unhealthy food.

Christy, on the other hand, will turn her nose up to things she doesn't want to eat. Sometimes she goes without dinner solely because she just doesn't want to eat it. But if you put a treat in front of her, you best believe she is going to gobble that up!

One of the things I worry about with my dogs, seeing as they are on opposite ends of the eating spectrum, is what I feed them. I want to give them healthy food that will still be lip licking. We are still working on a lip licking food with Christy, but I believe we've found the perfect treat for both of them!

Orijen treats are super healthy. They try to mirror what dogs would eat in the wild. The treats are high in meat content with a low glycemic load. So I don't worry about feeding them to my boy who will eat everything or my little girl who will hardly eat anything!

These treats are perfect for a picky dog! I shared some treats with Suzanne's dog Tank. He has a very sensitive stomach and he is able to eat them as well. Basically these treats are awesome because they are healthy for your dog and your dogs will love you because you fed them Orijen treats!

Monday, March 30, 2015

I had a dream nearly 5 years ago to run the Monument Avenue 10k. After putting it off, I decided to sign up this year and I finally ran it over the weekend.

I began my training back in the latter part of December. I remember thinking it seemed so early to start training. But with the wacky weather in Richmond, it turned out to be just right. I ran my butt off and many times questioned why I actually signed up for this race.

However, the feeling when I crossed the finish line was all worth it. All of the out of breath moments and feeling like I couldn't continue just disappeared when I was running the race. It was amazing at the amount of energy I could feel. The energy that kept me going long after what I was used to in my training.

I feel like I did an amazing job on this race, especially considering I never actually ran more than 4 miles during my whole training. During the race my foot started going numb after mile 2, so I stopped to get water and loosen my shoe a little. After that everything was great. I got to mile 3 and started running again. From 3 all the way to the end, I only stopped to walk 4 city blocks. And my most proud achievement was running from mile 5 all the way to the end. It really set me up for a great time in my own first runner opinion. I finished with 1:19:56. I broke my B goal (80 minutes) by 4 seconds.

So basically I can't wait to run my next race in May and sign up for a few more later in the summer!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Is it just me or did this week go by so fast?! Holy cow, I feel like I was just having my Friday night. What the world, time needs to slow down!

Okay so moving on, I'm super excited to have Chelsie from Life with Rosie guest co-hosting with us again this week! I absolutely love her! Plus today is an extra special day for having Chelsie with us. Today is her birthday!!! Go check her out and wish her a happy birthday! Happy birthday Chelsie!

As always, don't forget to follow your hosts, answer the questions, grab a button and link up your individual post. If you need more guidance, you can find it here!

What I loved about this past week//
Well, remember last week when I said I had the most boring week ever?! Yeah, I do all too vividly. And now I kind of regret saying that I had a boring week. It was looking much more peaceful than boring! I feel like I've been going at super sonic speed this week and just can't seem to slow down! So if I ever say I had a boring weekend, please remind me of this past week and tell me to be thankful.

Friday night I finally got to pick up my safety shoes from Red Wing. I'm pretty excited that they are so comfy and look like regular tennis shoes. I didn't take a picture of them because well... they are just shoes after all!

Over the weekend I went to my grandmother's house to help do some yard work. I learned how to use the leaf blower and got to blow this gigantic pile of leaves into the woods. Once I figured out that I could just hold down the "blow" button, I had it made! So much easier than I thought!

I have also been dog sitting once again since this weekend. This has also been the cause of some of my overly active (read stress) this week. Trying to pack a lunch, feed 5 fish, 2 dogs and 1 cat all while getting ready and out the door by 6 am is just a little stressful. But the dogs are so worth it. They were really cute.

What I'm looking forward to//
Running the 10k race this weekend. I'm not sure how well it's going to go. I've heard rain but now I think it might just be a little cool. So in any case, I'm really looking forward to it. It has been a life goal and I'm finally checking it off my list.

What I'm watching//
I finally got to watch the latest episode of Revenge... a few days late. But oh goodness! If there are any Revenge lovers out there... let's talk. Um I feel like Margo doesn't know what she's just gotten herself into!

What I'm listening to//
The Bobby Bones show. I didn't really like it when it first started coming on my country station, but the more I listen to it, the more I like it. I feel like they are people about my age and I can just get into it more than the other talk shoes on morning radio.

Oh I also figured out how to follow friends on Spotify. Super cool. If you are Facebook friends with me, you should totally let me know if you use Spotify so I can find some cool new music!

So that's about me in a nutshell. I feel like I've been too busy to even have fun things to talk about. Maybe next week What's Up Wednesday will be more fun on my end!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Health and fitness is something that I often talk about here on the blog. It is something that I try to take very seriously in my life. And although I talk about it quite often, I don't usually talk about the reasons behind my health and fitness goals.

I often wanted to talk about why I set health goals but never really had the courage to tell my health story. It's not that bad, but it's personal. So I put it off and I put it off until the #AuthenticateChallenge was to tell your story. So I decided it was finally time to tell my story.

So my story starts in college. My first few years of college were absolutely wonderful. It took me a few weeks to adjust to the college life, but for the most part I had an amazing time. I made a ton of new friends and just experienced the college life.

My sophomore year, I started noticing some changes in myself. Instead of being the happy bubbly girl I was all through high school and my freshman year, I was dull. Normal things didn't make me happy. I never wanted to hang out with my friends.

Eventually I went to the school psychologist and she tried to help, but more often than not I came away feeling worse than when I went in. I would sit at the dinner table and be there, but not be able to focus on the conversation. I remember feeling like I was in my own world. Like nobody cared about me and like nobody could help me.

I eventually broke down and started talking to my friend who was a psych major who's mom also had problems similar to mine. She was the biggest help I had. I finally felt like she understood me... She suggested I go to my regular doctor and talk to him about what was going on.

I was diagnosed with depression and although we couldn't figure out what caused me to get depression, I started taking medication. Finally I was able to feel better. I felt more like myself. I enjoyed doing things and hanging out with friends again.

But soon after the depression got better, I began to gain weight. Just a little at first, you know?! Enough to make you think you shrunk your jeans in the dryer. But then my family began to notice it to. I didn't know what to do. I started trying to exercise more. I went for jogs but eventually that started hurting my leg, so I would walk. At one point I was walking a 10k three times a week, plus walking to my classes. Nothing was helping.

I eventually went back to my doctor and requested he do a thyroid test. My mom has hypothyroidism and started to see the signs. I had gained weight, I was constantly complaining of being cold, my hair was falling out like crazy... it just all added up.

After a few weeks of waiting to confirm it and finally start on medicine, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 20. Even though my depression had gotten better, I started feeling bad again. I was going to be dependent on this little pill for the rest of my life. Why was this happening to me. All the while, I was steadily gaining weight.

By the time that I had figured out what was going on and gotten my medicine to take, I couldn't hardly stand to look at myself in the mirror. My face was so round and I couldn't wear any of my clothes anymore. I had gained 40 pounds and couldn't wait to drop it!

I'm still on the road to getting my body back to where it used to be. I'm still not the size I was when I was a freshman, but that's why I constantly write posts about health and fitness. I want to stay motivated to fit back into my size 3 and 5 jeans.

If y'all made it all the way through my story, I want to thank you. Thanks for reading all of it, and thanks for your support on all of my health and fitness posts.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Quentin Jacobsen is the kid who plays it safe. He hangs out in the band room before school, has perfect attendance and has plans for college in the fall. That all changes when Margo Roth Spiegelman climbs through his window. Margo has been Qs neighbor since childhood, and ever since childhood, Q has admired Margo from afar.

Margo takes Q on a night-long revenge adventure all across central Florida. Wondering why Margo had chosen him, Q can't wait to see what changes the next morning at school. Except everything changes because Margo has disappeared. Soon he finds out that she has left him clues to find her, clues that will show him he knows nothing about Margo Roth Spiegelman and clues that will take him on the adventure of a lifetime.

Paper Towns is one of those books that really makes you think. There is a scene when Margo and Q are on their revenge adventure and as they are standing on a top floor of the Sun Trust building, Margo talks about how fake the town is. That all the places and people are just paper places and paper people.

The idea of being a "paper person" just stuck with me. How many of us have acted in a way that we normally wouldn't just to fit in or be cool. I know I have and I'm betting that pretty much everybody has at one point or another. Sometimes we can loose ourselves in that fake identity we have created and then who really knows who we are?

Q brings up another good point that really made me think as well. Actually I suppose if you want to get technical, it was his parents who bring it up, but Q often refers back to it. Anyway, the point in question is that people can either be mirrors or windows. Again, this really spoke to me. How many times have I run into people who are mirrors and only let me see what I want to see. Or how many times have I misjudged a mirror person and seen what I wanted to see in them. Those that are windows are true to themselves and you can see them for who they really are. Honestly that's what I strive for.

All in all, I really liked the book. It kept my interest and I finished it in 4 days. I have to admit, I wasn't crazy about the ending which is why it received 4 stars instead of 5, but the majority of the book was great.

I think this book is great at any age because it has so much depth to it. You can read into it as little or as much as you want to.

But really, just read it!

Also, I do believe that Chelsie from Life with Rosie and I will soon be starting up a book club! Let me know if you would be interested in joining us!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

I feel like I have had the most boring week ever! Like ever, ever! So bare with me as I get my crap together and try to have a better week next week.

But hopefully our guest co-host did not have such a boring weekend. I always love looking at her pictures and reading about her fun adventures. And I'm sure y'all will do the same! So give it up for Shannon from Must Most Darling.

As always, follow the hosts, answer the questions, grab a button and add your link. If you need more information you can get there here!

What I loved about this past week//
Well, I already said that it was boring. And while that may be pretty true, I did complete my first full work week. And never mind the boring part, it was tiring! I actually talked about it more in depth in a post earlier this week. Check it out here!

What I'm looking forward to//
Friday? I mean I feel like that is every week. But no really, Friday my co-workers and I go out to lunch. Last week we went to Mexico. Like the country but actually a Mexican restaurant. I'm hoping for Steak n Shake this week, or Panera. I like both!

Other than that, I'm really looking forward to my trip out to Kansas to visit my best friend. I bought my plane ticket this past week. It was a little expensive, but not horribly. I'm just so excited... and a little nervous to fly.

What my latest obsession is//

That's it. Plain and simple. This is honestly the best Keurig coffee (or any coffee really) I've ever had! Oh and at work, people are really big on coffee. Who knew?!

What I'm watching//
90210. Maybe that makes me pretty lame, but oh well. I enjoy the ever-summer attire and wish I had the funds to shop like they do.

What I'm listening to//From This Valley by The Civil Wars. I remember the first time I heard this song. John and I were listening to a country station on satellite radio. I wasn't sure what to think at first, but then started to love it. Now I just can't get enough.

What I'm craving//

A visit to a winery! My new friends at work and I were talking about the few wineries that Virginia has and I think we might try to plan a trip to one of the ones further out west! Ah so fun!

What have you been up to this week?! Link up so we can catch up with you!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

May the Irish hills caress you.
May the lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

Happy Saint Patrick's day my friends. I hope y'all are having a wonderful day of the Irish. I am spreading around my Irish cheer for sure!

I decided everybody needs a little Irish given to them on Saint Patrick's Day so I made sugar cookies to take to work today and am wearing my ridiculous springy clovers headband. Oh I may look like a crazy, but I'm just Irish.

I have pretty much always dressed like a crazy for St. Patrick's Day... if you don't believe me, just take a look...

St. Patrick's Day 2009

So in case you decide to drink to the Irish tonight, I'll leave you with a good Irish drinking toast!

My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let's get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!

Monday, March 16, 2015

Yeah, I'll say it. And don't get me wrong, I am loving what I do. But standing on your feet for pretty much 8 hours a day every day, it gets tough. I came home every night last week and was pretty exhausted. I didn't think it would be like this.

Friday was my first day in my actual lab. I didn't expect to go to the lab on Friday, but it was a really good day. I got to meet all of the people I will be working with, which they are all very nice. I actually went to school with one of the girls so that was pretty awesome.

As for the actual work, I think I am going to get the hang of it really quickly. The only snafu is the software we have to use. That thing might be a beast. Plus because the company is an OTC (over the counter) drug producing company, we have FDA checks every so often which means we have to document everything. And I mean everything. They call them Audit reasons.

For example on Friday, we opened a new bottle of reagent. Obviously we opened it because we were out. But we had to go into this beastly software to document that we opened it. And give an Audit reason... umm... because we were out. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it, but at this moment, it's looking pretty beastly.

Also, the desk space is a little tight right now, so me and my friend that I trained with are sharing a little cubical. It's a little squished, but I would prefer to share it with her instead of anybody else. We are both so excited to decorate our desk space. I guess we'll have to kind of have our own little side, but that will be okay.

So I know I don't really need to apologize for my lack of post on my own blog, but in case you were wondering... that's the reason. It might be a little more scarce around here until I get into the groove of things at work. Basically I'm asking you to bare with me.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Thanks for stopping by the 6th week of What's Up Wednesday! I can't believe we have been at this for 6 weeks already! I feel like we were just planning and getting ready to start it.

So this week we have a new set of questions as well as a new guest co-host. Elizabeth from Epise of Cake is joining us this week! I'm so excited that she is here to help us out with What's Up Wednesday!

Don't forget to follow us, answer the questions, grab a button and add your link to the linkup. If you are still confused go here to get all the details!

Let's get started shall we?!

What I loved about this past week//
STARTING MY NEW JOB!! I've only worked 3 days so far but I've already made a few new friends and can't wait to actually start my new job. So far we've been going over procedure and a few things basic lab techniques. But I'm pretty darn excited to just be here! Every time I log onto the computer and see the company name I get a little jolt of excitement!

Also can we talk about bad lighting for a picture that will stick with me for the rest of my future at this company! I look so washed out! And it was raining the day we had our pictures taken. At least it wasn't horrible, right?! But that's okay, my cute picture goes right along with these super cute lab glasses! I hope I can get some better safety glasses soon!

The 5k in my hometown got postponed to May 2nd, so I didn't have to do an official run, but I did run a new trail kind of near my house. It's actually pretty awesome. When it is all finished it will run from Richmond all the way to Williamsburg. But it has a lot more hills than I was used to, so my 5k didn't go as well as I'd hoped, but here's to getting better!

What I'm looking forward to//
Possibly going down to the beach this weekend for the St. Patrick's Day parade/celebration. I'm pretty stoked for it and hope that I'll be able to go.

Other than that I'm really just looking forward to getting into the groove of things at work and not being stuck in front of a computer all day. Oh yeah, and learning my way around the building. I swear I've walked into the wrong hallway at least 3 times already. At least the other workers are very nice and give me guidance when I need to figure out where I'm going.

What my latest obsession is//
My new fingernail polish! Sally's was having a huge sale a few weeks ago so I went and got 4 new colors. I decided this quite bright coral color was perfect for hopefully warding off any more unwanted snow! Next I'm going to try this beautiful pale blue that screams Spring!!!

Also I'm obsessing over the Lunar Chronicles series (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Winter). I'm currently reading Scarlet which is also pictured above. I am about half way through it and can't wait to finish it! I just wish I had more time to read now that I'm working full time.

What I'm watching//
Hart of Dixie. I swear I'm almost caught up. Other than that I have a few shows I want to get back into. 90210 for instance. I'm seriously like a season and a half away from finishing that. And Grey's Anatomy. I'm at least 5 seasons into that and I really want to catch up!